Description ADULT MALE Has blue-gray back, wings, and tail. Head is marked with black crown and eyestripe, and white supercilium, cheeks, and chin. Throat and rest of underparts are reddish buff. ADULT FEMALE Similar, but black elements of head plumage are paler and underparts are paler orange-buff. JUVENILE Similar to respective sex adult, but with brownish wing feathers.

Dimensions Length: 4 1/2 -4 3/4" (11-12 cm)

Habitat Widespread and common in coniferous forests. Present year-round in many areas, but northern populations migrate south in fall and many others periodically undertake irruptive movements (some long distance), presumably in response to food shortages.